by Arnold Lobel
First published 1963
Prince Bertram delights in being thoroughly disagreeable. He kicks dogs, pulls hair, and makes everyone in the castle miserable with his cruel behavior. The young prince takes pride in living up to his nickname and causes trouble wherever he goes. His servants flee when they see him coming, and even his own family dreads his presence. But Bertram's reign of nastiness cannot last forever. When his actions finally catch up with him, the prince faces consequences that force him to reconsider his ways. Through a series of events that mirror his own cruelty back to him, Bertram discovers that kindness feels much better than meanness. Arnold Lobel crafts a story about transformation that shows how empathy can change even the most disagreeable person into someone worth knowing.
Genres: fiction, fantasy, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: redemption, transformation
32 pages · Library Binding · HarperCollins